Apples and Oranges? Comparing the Kymco Agility 125 and the Mercedes SL500

KennyT · 11-08-2012, 07:37 AM

I was riding my Kymco Agility 125 yesterday on my way to the health club. The weather was cool and overcast, fairly typical for early November...

As I was cruising down the road, a big smile spread across my face. This happens a lot. Riding a scooter makes me happy. It really does. I probably look like a crazy man to those driving in the other direction, but I smile nevertheless...

Feeling on top of the world, an interesting thought crossed my mind. I started comparing the joy I was experiencing with the pleasure one has driving a high end sports car.

I thought about how my bike stacks up to the beautiful Mercedes SL500.

At first glance, one might think, "How can you compare these two? They are apples and oranges..."

One is a two wheeled scooter made in Taiwan, the other a high end German automobile.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized how the two had more in common then most would guess...

So I broke my comparison into 7 categories: Power, Handling, Fun, Function, Price, Costs to maintain, and finally Wow Factor/Looks...

Kymco Agility 125 vs. Mercedes SL 500

Vs.

Power
The Kymco Agility 125 is powered by a 125 cc engine, which generates 9.3 horsepower.
The Mercedes SL500 has a V8, which generates 429 horsepower.
Big win for the Mercedes.

Handling
The Kymco is a 2 wheeled bike weighing 232 pounds. It darts around town with ease.
The Mercedes is a beast weighing just under 2 tons (3950 pounds). With its surprisingly soft suspension, the car handles more like a luxury car than a sports car. If you are not careful, you can find yourself in a ditch if you make many aggressive manuevers.
Kymco wins for handling.

Fun
Both are lots of fun. Driving with the wind in your hair (OK, I am bald) is a pleasure owners of both can enjoy.
However, I smile like a crazed fool when riding my scooter. I have never had the same feelings when driving anything with four wheels.
Advantage again goes to the Kymco, probably coming as a surprise to many..

Function
Both the scooter and the car are two seaters. Neither is suitable for driving with small children or car seats.
Both also have limited storage. The scooter has a trunk under the seat, while the Mercedes has a small trunk in the rear.
Riding a scooter, the driver is vulnerable to the elements.
The Mercedes, however, comes with both a soft top and a removable hard top. This makes it good for rainy or cold days. It also has air conditioning for driving in the summer heat.
Finally, the Mercedes has fantastic traction control, making it drivable through the winter. I would not drive my scooter in the snow.
The advantage here goes to the car.

Price
The MSRP on the Agility is $1,899.
The Mercedes retails for $105,500.
Enough said.

Cost to operate/maintain
Maintaing a scooter is cheap and easy. I filled up the tank today, and it cost me $3.88.
Basic maintenance like oil changes and headlight replacement can be done quite easily on the Kymco, even with little or no mechanical expertise.
The Mercedes, however, is a different animal, and the costs are exponentially higher. I would never consider doing any work on the Mercedes. Many complex parts and technology. Any repairs should be left to professionals.
Finally, the cost of a new set of tires on the SL 500 is about the price of a new scooter.
A big win for the Agility 125.

Wow factor/Looks
This is a close category.
They both look great in red, and both draw plenty of attention.
One can certainly argue that the car is better looking, but I downgrade the Mercedes slightly for the "What is this guy trying to prove?" look you receive when you are driving a car that costs as much as a small home.
I rate this category a draw.

Bottom line, both of these vehicles are fun to drive, and both get a lot of looks. I have owned both, and honestly, I enjoy my Kymco more than I did the Mercedes.

So if you are looking for a fun, econonomical, environmentally friendly vehicle that is suprisingly functional, buy a scooter.

If you must experience German automobile engineer, I understand. I like German cars too. However, I recommend you still buy that scooter, and with the $100,000 you save, go pick yourself up an Audi A6.

They look great in red too, have a big trunk, and will still leave you with $50,000 to play with.

Ken

Naperville Scooter is on Facebook.

klaviator · 11-08-2012, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KennyT

.
.................................................. .............
They look great in red too, have a big trunk, and will still leave you with $50,000 to play with.

Ken

I wish I had $50,000 to play with.

Lets see.

Hyundai Accent with 6 spd man trans - around$16,000 and up to 40 MPG
Kawasaki Versys - around $10,000 with accessories
Kawasaki KLX250 - around $6,000
BMW C650 Sport - around $12,000
Kymco movie 150 - around $4,000

And that leaves $2,000 to play with

You can keep the Audi.

And I'd keep the bikes I already have

KennyT · 11-08-2012, 10:22 PM

Hi Klaviator! Thanks for stopping in!
Ken

ferrix · 11-09-2012, 01:21 AM

If they are so closely matched, how come Janis Joplin sang "Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz" rather than "Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Kymco Agility"? :)

Forde · 11-09-2012, 03:23 AM

kymco wasnt invented yet!

klaviator · 11-09-2012, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferrix

If they are so closely matched, how come Janis Joplin sang "Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz" rather than "Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Kymco Agility"? :)

Just shows how little Janis Joplin knew.

Starbuck21 · 11-09-2012, 04:57 AM

I love it! Neat comparison; will cancel my Mercedes order now

Thanks for sharing!!!

hexnut · 11-09-2012, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forde

kymco wasnt invented yet!

Janis sang that song in 1970. Kymco came about in 1963 as a joint venture with Honda. They just hadn't made scooters yet.

KennyT · 11-10-2012, 05:21 AM

Hi Hexnut, Starbuck, Klaviator, Forde, and Ferrix. Thanks!
Well, different strokes for different folks? I hope we don't make all our purchase decisions based on Janis Joplins thoughts?
Also, she died at 29 (I think). That is when I owned my Mercedes. Perhaps an age thing...
I wrote this for fun, obviously. However, my point is 100% serious. I have more fun riding a scooter than I did driving that car. Much more fun...
Thanks again!
Ken

soboy · 11-10-2012, 07:53 AM

Great thread. I've owned an Agility 125 for a bit over 4 years now - my total maintenance and repair costs have been zero. That's right, not one penny. Dealership sold it to original owner with a free maintenance package thrown in. My average mpg has been 85 but I have seen 91 mpg more than a few times. Fun for the dollar is extremely high. I've driven the SL500 and it is a tank. The Agility is so much fun, I sold all my motorcycles and bought a Yamaha Tmax to replace them.

ferrix · 11-10-2012, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KennyT

I wrote this for fun, obviously. However, my point is 100% serious.
Ken

Same here :) And the serious part of my post was that Mercedes has a history and image that others like Kymco can only dream of. It is an aspirational brand, one that has had songs writen about it! Owning an object like that, being a part of that, *is* a large part of fun for some people.

This comes up in the world of scooters too. I'm actually fairly immune to the allure of brand name so I often get to argue about the tangible merits of Taiwanese and Japanese scooters vs Vespa... but there is simply no point. Vespa fans, especially those hardcore fans of their vintage models are not interested in tangible benefits of owning a modern scooter. They simply want a Vespa - for its history, image and associations that exist in their mind, not in reality.

klaviator · 11-10-2012, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KennyT

Hi Hexnut, Starbuck, Klaviator, Forde, and Ferrix. Thanks!
Well, different strokes for different folks? I hope we don't make all our purchase decisions based on Janis Joplins thoughts?
Also, she died at 29 (I think). That is when I owned my Mercedes. Perhaps an age thing...
I wrote this for fun, obviously. However, my point is 100% serious. I have more fun riding a scooter than I did driving that car. Much more fun...
Thanks again!
Ken

Four wheels move the body, Two wheels move the soul.

Two wheels are simply much more fun.

What more can I say?

KennyT · 11-13-2012, 03:55 AM

Hi Klaviator, Ferrix, and Soboy.
I stand by my review, even though it was for fun, and have owned both...
Klaviator, great quote. I will use that!
The SL500 was a tank. I had a 95, made an aggressive maneuver, and ended up in a ditch. Fortunately, neither me or my passenger, an absolutely stunning brunette (she was out of my league. An advantage to the car!), were hurt. I am not the best driver, and a more skilled one probably would have kept control. I had previously owner a few other German automobiles (Porsche, Audi) and believe I would not have lost control with either of them.
Thanks again!
Ken

ScootTour · 11-15-2012, 01:21 PM

this subject reminds me of a quote in 'glengarry glen ross' when Balwin yells 'I drove here in an $80,000 car what did you drive in on?' I wish the reply was 'why did you need an $80,000 car to get to the same place I did in the first place?

ScootTour · 11-15-2012, 01:29 PM

oh I would add, I dont know how often people approach someone driving an SL500 to ask questions which then starts a conversation but I will say while on my scooter I am always being engaged into a conversation.

11-08-2012, 07:37 AM	#1
KennyT ^OP Adventurer Joined: Sep 2012 Location: Naperville Oddometer: 69	Apples and Oranges? Comparing the Kymco Agility 125 and the Mercedes SL500 I was riding my Kymco Agility 125 yesterday on my way to the health club. The weather was cool and overcast, fairly typical for early November... As I was cruising down the road, a big smile spread across my face. This happens a lot. Riding a scooter makes me happy. It really does. I probably look like a crazy man to those driving in the other direction, but I smile nevertheless... Feeling on top of the world, an interesting thought crossed my mind. I started comparing the joy I was experiencing with the pleasure one has driving a high end sports car. I thought about how my bike stacks up to the beautiful Mercedes SL500. At first glance, one might think, "How can you compare these two? They are apples and oranges..." One is a two wheeled scooter made in Taiwan, the other a high end German automobile. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how the two had more in common then most would guess... So I broke my comparison into 7 categories: Power, Handling, Fun, Function, Price, Costs to maintain, and finally Wow Factor/Looks... Kymco Agility 125 vs. Mercedes SL 500 Vs. Power The Kymco Agility 125 is powered by a 125 cc engine, which generates 9.3 horsepower. The Mercedes SL500 has a V8, which generates 429 horsepower. Big win for the Mercedes. Handling The Kymco is a 2 wheeled bike weighing 232 pounds. It darts around town with ease. The Mercedes is a beast weighing just under 2 tons (3950 pounds). With its surprisingly soft suspension, the car handles more like a luxury car than a sports car. If you are not careful, you can find yourself in a ditch if you make many aggressive manuevers. Kymco wins for handling. Fun Both are lots of fun. Driving with the wind in your hair (OK, I am bald) is a pleasure owners of both can enjoy. However, I smile like a crazed fool when riding my scooter. I have never had the same feelings when driving anything with four wheels. Advantage again goes to the Kymco, probably coming as a surprise to many.. Function Both the scooter and the car are two seaters. Neither is suitable for driving with small children or car seats. Both also have limited storage. The scooter has a trunk under the seat, while the Mercedes has a small trunk in the rear. Riding a scooter, the driver is vulnerable to the elements. The Mercedes, however, comes with both a soft top and a removable hard top. This makes it good for rainy or cold days. It also has air conditioning for driving in the summer heat. Finally, the Mercedes has fantastic traction control, making it drivable through the winter. I would not drive my scooter in the snow. The advantage here goes to the car. Price The MSRP on the Agility is $1,899. The Mercedes retails for $105,500. Enough said. Cost to operate/maintain Maintaing a scooter is cheap and easy. I filled up the tank today, and it cost me $3.88. Basic maintenance like oil changes and headlight replacement can be done quite easily on the Kymco, even with little or no mechanical expertise. The Mercedes, however, is a different animal, and the costs are exponentially higher. I would never consider doing any work on the Mercedes. Many complex parts and technology. Any repairs should be left to professionals. Finally, the cost of a new set of tires on the SL 500 is about the price of a new scooter. A big win for the Agility 125. Wow factor/Looks This is a close category. They both look great in red, and both draw plenty of attention. One can certainly argue that the car is better looking, but I downgrade the Mercedes slightly for the "What is this guy trying to prove?" look you receive when you are driving a car that costs as much as a small home. I rate this category a draw. Bottom line, both of these vehicles are fun to drive, and both get a lot of looks. I have owned both, and honestly, I enjoy my Kymco more than I did the Mercedes. So if you are looking for a fun, econonomical, environmentally friendly vehicle that is suprisingly functional, buy a scooter. If you must experience German automobile engineer, I understand. I like German cars too. However, I recommend you still buy that scooter, and with the $100,000 you save, go pick yourself up an Audi A6. They look great in red too, have a big trunk, and will still leave you with $50,000 to play with. Ken Naperville Scooter is on Facebook. __________________ 2009 Kymco Agility 125 Have fun and enjoy the ride!

11-08-2012, 10:22 PM	#3
KennyT ^OP Adventurer Joined: Sep 2012 Location: Naperville Oddometer: 69	Hi Klaviator! Thanks for stopping in! Ken __________________ 2009 Kymco Agility 125 Have fun and enjoy the ride!

11-09-2012, 03:23 AM	#5
Forde Studly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2011 Location: Northern Ireland Oddometer: 534	kymco wasnt invented yet! __________________ '11 Honda Hornet '01 Peugeot Speedfight 100 4x Puch Maxi

11-09-2012, 04:57 AM	#7
Starbuck21 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2011 Location: NE Washington and Wickenburg, AZ Oddometer: 122	I love it! Neat comparison; will cancel my Mercedes order now Thanks for sharing!!! __________________ Glenn 2012 Honda Silver Wing 1974 CT90's (2) NE Washington and Wickenburg, AZ

11-10-2012, 05:21 AM	#9
KennyT ^OP Adventurer Joined: Sep 2012 Location: Naperville Oddometer: 69	Hi Hexnut, Starbuck, Klaviator, Forde, and Ferrix. Thanks! Well, different strokes for different folks? I hope we don't make all our purchase decisions based on Janis Joplins thoughts? Also, she died at 29 (I think). That is when I owned my Mercedes. Perhaps an age thing... I wrote this for fun, obviously. However, my point is 100% serious. I have more fun riding a scooter than I did driving that car. Much more fun... Thanks again! Ken __________________ 2009 Kymco Agility 125 Have fun and enjoy the ride!

11-09-2012, 01:21 AM	#4
ferrix Studly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Oddometer: 549	If they are so closely matched, how come Janis Joplin sang "Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz" rather than "Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Kymco Agility"? :)

11-10-2012, 07:53 AM	#10
soboy Beastly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2005 Location: Roswell, GA Oddometer: 2,242	Great thread. I've owned an Agility 125 for a bit over 4 years now - my total maintenance and repair costs have been zero. That's right, not one penny. Dealership sold it to original owner with a free maintenance package thrown in. My average mpg has been 85 but I have seen 91 mpg more than a few times. Fun for the dollar is extremely high. I've driven the SL500 and it is a tank. The Agility is so much fun, I sold all my motorcycles and bought a Yamaha Tmax to replace them. __________________ "Reason takes a holiday as Dr. Horrible spends money he doesn't have, on a motorcycle he doesn't need, in a misguided attempt to recapture his youth which, upon reflection, wasn't all that great in the first place." "Ride to the bar in your pirate outfit, guzzle some beer, play "Free Bird' on the juke box and then go home. Badass."

11-13-2012, 03:55 AM	#13
KennyT ^OP Adventurer Joined: Sep 2012 Location: Naperville Oddometer: 69	Hi Klaviator, Ferrix, and Soboy. I stand by my review, even though it was for fun, and have owned both... Klaviator, great quote. I will use that! The SL500 was a tank. I had a 95, made an aggressive maneuver, and ended up in a ditch. Fortunately, neither me or my passenger, an absolutely stunning brunette (she was out of my league. An advantage to the car!), were hurt. I am not the best driver, and a more skilled one probably would have kept control. I had previously owner a few other German automobiles (Porsche, Audi) and believe I would not have lost control with either of them. Thanks again! Ken __________________ 2009 Kymco Agility 125 Have fun and enjoy the ride!

11-15-2012, 01:21 PM	#14
ScootTour Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2012 Oddometer: 1,478	this subject reminds me of a quote in 'glengarry glen ross' when Balwin yells 'I drove here in an $80,000 car what did you drive in on?' I wish the reply was 'why did you need an $80,000 car to get to the same place I did in the first place?

11-15-2012, 01:29 PM	#15
ScootTour Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2012 Oddometer: 1,478	oh I would add, I dont know how often people approach someone driving an SL500 to ask questions which then starts a conversation but I will say while on my scooter I am always being engaged into a conversation.

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